Buffer and Instagram publishing

Schedule Instagram posts and build your brand organically

Visually plan and schedule your Instagram posts, carousels, Stories, and Reels. Receive personalized recommendations to increase your reach and build the organic momentum that will take your Instagram page from “meh” to “must-follow”.

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Direct scheduling

Auto publish your posts, carousels, Stories, and Reels directly to Instagram

First comment

Include a first comment with your scheduled Instagram posts

Best time to post

See the best times to publish to earn the greatest reach

Hashtag manager

Create, save, and organize hashtags to use in your Instagram posts

Beat the Instagram algorithm and get the reach you deserve

Here’s the secret yet simple formula to beat the Instagram algorithm—consistently publishing content when your audience is most engaged. Find the perfect time, date, and type of post to boost engagement without draining your time and let Buffer do the rest of the work for you.

Turn double taps into sales

Make the most of your one link on Instagram by creating a beautiful and mobile-friendly landing page where you can share your most valuable links, content, and product pages. Easily drive more traffic to your website and turn your double tappers into customers.

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Tweets with the right hashtags get more reach, engagement, and retweets. Find which hashtags perform best for you, with Buffer.

Capture organic attention with Reels

With Reels you can reach 83% more people than regular posts—all without spending a cent on ads. Schedule and auto publish yours in advance with Buffer.

Visually (and easily) plan your content calendar

Get a bird’s-eye view of your upcoming schedule and fill in any content gaps. Easily reschedule your posts by dragging and dropping them around the calendar. And enjoy the benefits (yes, that means more free time for you!) of a fully-planned out content calendar.

Reach a new audience with the right hashtags

Growing on Instagram shouldn’t be a shot in the dark. Buffer reveals which hashtags work best for growth, plus you can auto-schedule hashtags as first comments on your posts.

Luke ThorntonManaging Director

"Buffer makes business manageable for us. We can manage all posts in one place and it’s easy to use. It’s a real lifesaver."

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Luke Thornton,Managing Director

FAQ

1
How does Instagram scheduling work?

With Buffer’s Instagram scheduler, you can plan, collaborate, and publish pins that drive meaningful engagement and growth for your brand. Features include customizable posting schedules, a drafting feature that allows you to save yourpost ideas and come back to them later, a browser extension to quickly share content from anywhere on the web, and a drafts and approval process.

2
What types of Instagram posts can I schedule with Buffer?

You can schedule Instagram image posts, video posts, carousel posts (up to 10 images), Stories, and Reels with Buffer.

3
Can I schedule Instagram posts to publish automatically?

Yes, Buffer offers both direct scheduling (posts that can be published automatically) and reminders (posts that you’ll receive a push notification for).

4
Can I schedule Instagram Reels for free?

You sure can! With our platform, you can plan, edit, draft, and schedule Reels to Instagram, for free. We’ve got you covered when it comes to maximizing your Instagram Reel strategy.

5
Can I schedule carousel posts to publish automatically?

Yes, you can schedule carousel posts to be published automatically to Instagram with Buffer—no need for reminders.

6
Can I schedule Instagram stories to publish automatically?

Yes! You can schedule your Instagram Stories to publish automatically at your desired date and time.

7
How do I schedule Instagram posts?

Scheduling Instagram posts through Buffer is super easy. Here’s how:

  • To get started, log in to your Buffer account
  • Click the Create Post button at the top right corner of your calendar or queue
  • Select the Instagram channel you'd like to schedule to by clicking on the avatar at the top of the composer
  • Craft your post by adding any photos, videos, GIFs, text, and hashtags
  • Then click on Add to Queue, Share Now, Schedule Post, or Save as Draft depending on your scheduling preference

Head here for a full guide on how to plan, schedule, and publish to Instagram.

8
How do I schedule Instagram stories?

Instagram stories are a powerful channel to build your brand and engage customers. With Buffer, you can plan, prepare, and schedule your Instagram stories. Here’s how:

  • To get started, log in to your Buffer account
  • Select your Instagram account on the left hand side of your dashboard and head to the Stories tab
  • Open the composer at the top of your stories queue
  • In the stories composer, click Add Media to choose the images and videos you'd like to include in your story. You can upload up to 10 media files within one story.
  • Drag and drop your images and videos into the order you want
  • Add notes, links, and reminders in the notes section by clicking on Add Notes
  • Finally, click Schedule Story. Choose the desired date and time to receive the reminder and we'll send a push notification to your mobile device at that time.

Head here for a full guide on how to plan, schedule, and publish to Instagram.

9
Why should I schedule Instagram posts?

If you’re a small business owner, or social media manager, there are many benefits to scheduling your Instagram posts. Here are a few reasons why people prefer to schedule:

  • It saves them time and mental energy
  • It ensures that they post consistently (and keeping a consistent schedule helps you maximize engagement)
  • It gives you better control over your Instagram content
  • It enables you to plan and post to Instagram from your desktop

10
How do I start scheduling my Instagram posts?

With Buffer, you can schedule, plan, analyze, engage, and much more. Get started with a 14-day free trial, connect your Instagram channel, and start scheduling immediately.

Take your Instagram engagement to the next level